Meat clamp or holder.



. H. R. GOODPBLLOW. MEAT CLAMP 0R HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.25, 1913.

L1 glcpo atented Jan. 12, 1915.

uy ED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

H1? RBERT R. GOODFELLOW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO U. S. SLICING MACHINE I COMPANY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

MEAT CLAMP OR,` HOLDER.

Specicationpf Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, l1915.

Application led September 25, 1913. Serial N o.I l791,701., I

kTo all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT R. G0oD-.

FELLow, a subject of the King of England, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Meat Clamps or Holders, particularly adapted, though not necessarily limited in its use, to slicing machines; and one of the objects of lthe invention is to provide an 1mproved clamp of this character which isnot only adapted to clamp or secure the meat upon the support, but Will grip and hold the meat', such as ham or the like from 4which the bone has been removed, together and prevent the same from becoming mashed or broken under the pressure of the clamp', while at'the same time it -will also hold the meat firmly and securely in proper position to be cut.

A further object is to provide an improved device of this class having means for exerting a uniform pressure on substantially all sides of the meat and which pressure is compensated by the adjustment of the clamp.

To the attainment of these ends and' the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention consists 1n features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention, and in whichi l Figure 1 is a front elevation of an improved clamp of this type, constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and showing the same in position when clamping` an article upon the article supported. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.

l showing the 'clamp in a releasing osltion. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View o the clamping element.

Referring more particularly to the drawin and in theupresent exemplification'of thls invention, the numeral 10 designates generally an article support having uprights 11, 12 projecting thereabove and the numeral 13 designates generally the clamping bar having an arched portion 14 which isv arranged between the uprights 11 and 12, and the bar is provided with the usual openings through Which pass the. uprights, one extremity of the bar being shaped to form a handle 15 by means of which the bar may be adjusted with respect .to the article support 10 and the uprights 1l, 12.

T he npright 12 1s pivotally connected as at with its'support, and teeth 17, 18 are provided respectively on the uprights 1l, 12 by means of which the clamping bar 13 1s secured in any of its adjusted positions as 1s well known in this art. Any other form of fasteningmeans for holding the bar 1nv1ts adjusted positions may be provided. Therefore it is to be understood that this invention 1s* not-to be limited to any specific fastening means for the bar.

Clamping members designated generall by reference to numerals 19, 20 are pivotally connected intermediate their ends by means' of the pivots 21, 22 With supports 23, 24 connected with thebar 13 and which supports may be in the form of projections. These clamping members 19, 20 are preferably curved or arched as shown and the adjacent extremities 25, 26 of the respective members 19, 20 are arranged beneath the arched portion 13 of the .ba-r and terminate short of each other'so that they may be freely moved about their pivots without contacting each other. v Y

The elastic members 27, 28 are provided to operate on one side of the vrespective pivots 2l, 22 of the'elements 19, 20 and tend normally to move these elements about their pivots/inte the positions shown in Fig. 2, and in order to accomplish this,one extremity of the respective elastic members 27, 28 is connected with the respective elements 19, 20, while the other extremities of the elastic members are connected with the bar.

The operation of this improved clamp is as follows: The arts are shown in their normal positions in Fig. 2 so that when an" by the reference numeral 29. The degree of pressure of the elements 19, 20 upon the article being controlled by the extent of the adjustment of the clamping bar 13. Thus it will be manifest that with this improved construction the article, such as ham, or meat from which the bone has been removed, will be clamped and held in position with an equal pressure on substantially all sides thereof, thereby not only preventing the article from being crushed or mashed by the adjustment of the clamping bar, but the article will also be firmly held in position to be cut so that a clean cut may be made, resulting in a complete or whole slice, instead ot' a ragged or torn slice. This device is particularly advantageous in holding an article to'beV V'cut until it is cut to the last slice, as the members 19, 20 may be of such a widththat it will grip the extremity of the article and thereby hold the article until it is cut to the last slice.

In order to release the clamp all that is necessary is to adjust the clamping bar 13 away from the article support 10 in the ordinary and well known manner, as during such adjustment the elastic members 27, 28 which have been placed under tension by the clampin'gof the article, will, as the bar 13 is adjusted, exert their stress upon the members 19, 20 to move them out of engagement with the article to release the latter and to move the members into the position shown in Fig. 2.

If desired and in order to properly position the article upon the article support 10, so that it will be guided into proper position with respect to the clamping members 19,20,

the article support may be provided with a groove or recess 30 in the face thereof, into which the article may be placed.

While in the present exemplilication of this invention the preferred form has been herein shown and described, it is to be understood. that various changes may be made in'the details of construction, and in thev combination and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Vhateis claimed as new is:

1. A device of thecharacter described,

embodying a clamp supporting element, and clamping elements connected thereto for movement therewith and for clamping movement with respect thereto, an article support, the clamp supporting element being mounted ltor movement toward and away from the article support` the second recited elements being controlled in their clamping' movement with respect to the first recited element. by the engagement of the article therewith.

2. A device of the character described, embodying an adjustable clamp supporting element, article gripping means connected article gripping means carried thereby for independent movement with respect thereto, and means tending normally to move the gripping means into releasing positionwith respect to the said element, the said gripping means being moved into gripping position with relation to the said element by the engagement ot' the article with the said means and the adjustment of the said supporting element.

4. A device of the character described, embodying an adjustable support, andarticle gripping means pivotally connected with the support for bodily adjustment therewith, the said gripping means being pivotally moved with respect to the support to grip and hold the article, by the engagement therewith of the article, and the bodily adjustment of the support.

5. A device of the character described, embodying an adjustable support, ,article gripping means pivotally connected to the support and for bodily movement therewith, and means tending normally to cause the gripping means to assume an inactive gripping position' with relation to the support, the said gripping means being pivotally moved with respect to the support and into an active gripping position by the engagement of the article therewith and the adjustment of the said support.

6. A device of the character described, embodying a support mounted for movenient toward and away from an article support, article gripping means carried thereby, and means whereby the said article gripping means will be rendered active to embrace means carried therewith, and means Whereby the lirst said means'will be-rendered active to embrace and grip the article, by the engagement of the article with the first said means, vand the degree of pressure of the article gripping means upon the article will be controlled by the adjustment of the said support.

8. A device of the character described,

embodying a support vmovable toward and away from the article, article gripping means carried therewith. means whereby the engagement of the article with the first lrecited means will cause the latter to embrace and grip the article, and the degree of pres- `Sure of the said gripping means will be controlled by the adjustment of the said support, and means for maintaining the support in any of its adjustedpositions.

9. A device of the 'character described, embodying an adjustably mounted support, article gripping members connected therewith and movable with respect thereto, and yielding means tending normally to move the said gripping members in one direction with respect to the support and into inactive gripping positions, the said gripping members being movable in another direction with respect to the support and against the stress kof the said yielding means to embrace and grip the article, by the engagement of the article with a portion of the' said gripping means.

10. A device of the character described, embodying an adjustablv mounted support, article gripping members connected-therewith and movable with respect thereto, and yielding'means tending normally to move` said gripping members in one direction with respect to the support and into inactive griping positions, the said gripping members being movable in another direction with respect to the support and against the stress of the said yielding means to embrace and grip the article, by the engagement of the article with a portion of the said gripping means, the gripping pressure of `the said gripping means upon the article being controlled by the degree of adjustment of the said support. i

' 11. In a device of the character described,

the combination of an article support, aV

clamping bar adjustable with respect to the support and clamping members pivotally connected with the bar, said clamping mem-` bers adapted to engage and embrace the articlejupon the support when the bar is adjusted and the clamping members contact with the article. v

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of an article support, a clamping bar adjustable toward and from the support, clamping members pivotally connected with the bar and movable therewith, and means tendin normally to move the clamping members a `out their pivots in yone direction, a portion of the clamping members being brought into engagement with the article by the adjustment of the said bar, whereby the clampinfw members will v be moved about their pivots by the article into positions to embrace and clamp the article.A

13. In a device of the character described,-

the combination of an article support, a clamping bar adjustable toward and away from the support, clampingr members pivotally connected with the bar and. movable therewith, means tending normally to move the clamping members about their pivots in clamping bar in any of its adjusted positions. i

14. In arlevice of the character described, the combination of an article support, a clamping bar adjustabletoward and away from the support, clamping members pivotally connected with the bar and movable therewith, means tending normally to move the clamping members about their pivots in one direction, a portion of the clamping members being brought into engagement with 'the article by the adjustment of the said bar, whereby the clamping members will be moved about their pivots by the article into positions to embrace and clamp the article, and guiding means for positioning the article upon the support to be engaged by the clamping members.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination of an article support, a clamping bar adjustable toward and away from the support, clamping members pivotallyconnected therewith, means tending normally `to move the clamping members about their pivots in one direction, a portion of the clamping members being brought into engagement with the article by the adjustment of the said bar, whereby the clamping members will be moved about their pivots by the article into positions to embrace and clamp the article, and means for maintaining the clamping bar in any of its adjusted positions, there being a recess in the face of the article support for receiving the article to position it to be engaged bythe clamping members.

16. A device of the character described, embodying an adjustable clamping bar, clamping elements fpivotally connected therewith, and means or moving the clamping elements about their pivots in directions to position a portion of the elements to be engaged by the article when the bar is adjusted, such adjustment of the bar and engagement of the elements with the article, operating to move the elements about their pivots in another direction to cause them to embrace and clamp the article.

17. A device of the character described, embodying an adjustable clamping bar, a pair of opposed clamping elements pivotally connected therewith, and yielding means for movingvthe clamping elements about their pivots in a direction to position a portion of the elements to be engaged by the article when the bar is adjusted, such adjustment of the bar and engagement of the elements with the article, operating to move the elements about their pivots in the opposite direction and against the stress ofthe said yielding means to cause them to embrace and clamp the article.

18. A device of the' character described, embodying an adjustable clamping bar, a pair of opposed clamping elements pivotally connected therewith, yielding means for moving the clamping elements about their pivots in a direction to position a portion of the elements to be engaged by the article when the bar is adjusted, such adjustment o the bar'and engagement of the elements with the article, operating to move the elements about their pivots in the opposite direction and against the stress of the said yeilding means, to cause them to embrace and clamp the article., and means for securing the said bar in any position to which ithas been adjusted.

.19. A device of the character described,

embodying an adjustable clamping bar having an arched portion and a pair of clamping elements pivotally connected intermediate their ends with the bar, said members operating in opposition `to each other, the ladjacent ends of the members being positioned to be engaged by the article when the bar is adjusted to be moved thereby into thesaid arched position of the bar to cause the clamping members to embrace and clamp the article by such adjustment of the bar.

20. A device of the character described, embodying anadjustable clamping bar having an arched portion,a pair of clamping elements pivtally connected intermediate their ends with the bar, said members operyating in opposition to each other, the adjacent ends of the members being positioned to be engaged by the article when the bar is adjusted to be moved thereby into the said arched portion of the bar to cause the clamping members to embrace and clamp the article by such adjustment of the bar, and means vfor causing the clamping members to release the article when the bar is adjusted in another direction.

21. A device of the character described, embodying an adjustable clamping bar having an arched portion, a pair ot clamping elements pivotally connected intermediate their ends with the bar, said members operating in opposition to each other, the adjacent ends of the members being` positioned to be engaged by the article when the bar is adjusted to be moved thereby into the said arched portion of the bar to cause the clamping members to embrace and clamp the article by such adjustment of the bar, and yielding. means'operating to cause the members to release the article when the bar is adiustedin another direction and to move the clamping members to normal position.A

22. A device of the character described,

maiala embodying a clamping bar, clamping members pivotally connected intermediate their ends with the bar, an article support,'said clamping bar being mounted for movement toward and away from the article support, the said adjacent ends of the members being normally held in a position with respect to the bar, to be engaged by the article when the bar is adjusted. and to be moved by the article in a direction to cause the clamping members to swing about their pivots into engagementand about the article to clamp and grip the same.

23. A device of the character described, embodying a clamping bar, an article supporting surface with respect to which the bar is adjustable, and clamping elements pivotally connected with the bar, said elements being adapted to engage the article when the bar is adjusted and to be moved about its pivot by the article into a position to embrace and grip the article.

24. A device of the character described, embodying a supporting element, article gripping elements connected therewith for movement with respect thereto, an article support, the supporting element mounted for movement toward and away from the article support, and provisions for causing the article gripping elements to move with respect to the supporting element and into engagement with the article to embrace and grip the same. 4 25. A device of the character described, embodying a supporting element, an article support, said element adjustable toward and away from the article support, article gripping elements connected therewith for movement -with respect thereto, and provisions for causing the article gripping elements to move with respect to the supporting` element and into engagement with the article to embrace and grip the same. y

26. A device of the character described, embodying a supporting element, an article support,said element mounted for movement t toward and away from the article support, article gripping means connected with the element and adapted to embrace and clamp the article, and provisions for causing the f article gripping means to thus grip the article, the said article gripping means embodying an element connected with the said supporting element and for independent movement with respect thereto.

27. A device of the character described, embodying a supporting element, an article support, said element adjustable toward and away from the article support, article gripping means connected therewith and adapt-v ed to embrace and clamp the article, and provisions for causing the article gripping 'means to thus grip the article, the said article gripping means embodying an element support, said supporting element mounted for movement toward and away from the article support, article gripping means connected with the element and adapted to em-V brace and clamp the article, and provisions for causing the article gripping means to thus grip the article, the said article gripping means embodying an element pivotally connected with the said supporting element and 4for independent movement with respect thereto.

29. A device of the character described. embodying an element for creating pressure upon the article, article gripping elements coperating therewith, an article support, the first recited element mounted for movement toward and away from the article support, and provisions for causing the gripping elements to embrace and clamp the article.

`30. A device of the character described,l

embodying a clamp supporting element movable toward and away from'an article support, and clamping elements connected with the first recited element for movement therewith and for clamping movement with respect thereto, the second recited elementsbeing controlled in their clamping movement with respect to the first recited element and the article support, by the engagement of the article with the clamping elements.

31. A device of the character described,

.embodying an adjustable clamp supporting element, an article support, article gripping means connected with the said element for movement therewith and with respect thereto, and means whereby a gripping action independent of the article support will be effected by the engagement of the article with the said means, the latter being controlled bv the adjustment of the supporting element with respect tothe article support.

1n testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 19th day of September, A. D. 1913.

HERBERT n. GooDFnLLow.

Witnesses:

' J. H. JOCHUM, Jr.,

CHANNING L. SENTZ. 

